Penn-Delco School Board votes to expel honor student after run-in with play director

By LAURA WISELEY

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

ASTON -- By a 6-3 vote, the Penn-Delco School Board voted Wednesday to expel the Sun Valley High School honor student accused of grabbing a play director by his shirt collar during an argument last month.

Seventeen-year-old Sam Schmucker left the school district administrative board room without comment after the vote was cast, and after impassioned pleas by his family members to reinstate the Sun Valley senior.

His mother, Monica Schmucker, said afterward she expected the vote to go against her son.

"It's just unfair," she said. "If Sam Schmucker is a threat to that school, then shut the school down. Lock the doors."

She added that the family is already planning to appeal the decision and will file an injunction at Media Courthouse today.

"I will sell my home if I have to," she said. "I will do whatever it takes."

Wednesday's decision came on the heels of last week's expulsion hearing for Schmucker. He testified then that he was involved in an altercation with John Baxter, who had been hired by the district to direct Sun Valley's production of the musical "Annie." After Baxter allegedly offended Schmucker's girlfriend, Schmucker grabbed him by the shirt and yelled at him.

Following the incident, school administrators suspended Schmucker and removed him from his starring role in the play. He had served 21 days of suspension before Wednesday's decision was handed down.

More than 70 people were on hand for the final vote. Before the board's decision was announced, many of Schmucker's relatives addressed the board, urging members not to expel him and praising his reputation as an honors student who scored high on his recent SATs and was active in many school activities.

"His SAT scores would qualify him for UCLA or MIT," Monica Schmucker said. "Instead, we were told by someone at West Chester University that they would rip up his application (if he was expelled). He's a teenager. They make mistakes. And because of this split-second mistake, there's no college, there's no school. This is his legacy."

Schmucker's maternal grandmother, Pat Mount, said Schmucker's positive impact on the school should have been taken into consideration.

"After all he's given to your school, you've got to cut this kid some slack," she said. "It's not a one-size-fits-all decision."

Still, on a motion by board member Lisa Esler, seconded by John Dougherty, board members voted 6-3 in favor of Schmucker's expulsion. Voting for the expulsion were Esler, Dougherty, A. Lewis Boughner, John O'Donnell, James Porter and board President Kim Robinson. Voting against it were Gregory Camma, Kevin Tinsley and board Vice President Kathleen Ieradi.

After the vote, Schmucker and his family left the building. They were followed by most of the 50-plus students in attendance, who cried, hugged and made phone calls outside the building. Afterward, several students said they plan to walk out of classes at the high school at 11 a.m. today in a show of solidarity for Schmucker.

Sun Valley senior Kelly Donegan, 18, railed against the decision in remarks to the board following the vote.

"You ruined his life," she said, her voice breaking. "I hope you're all able to sleep tonight. He's a great kid, he messed up and now he's screwed. No college, no nothing. Now he's only going to be known as the kid who got expelled."

Schmucker's family said Wednesday night that they plan to file an injunction with the court allowing Schmucker to return to classes. His aunt, Elizabeth McGlinchey, distributed copies of a district policy stating that students facing suspension or expulsion would be granted an informal hearing within several days of the suspension, saying that the district had not provided such a hearing.

"It never happened," McGlinchey said.

District Solicitor Michael Puppio said he "respectfully disagreed" with McGlinchey's assertion.

"I believe due process rules were followed by the district," he said. He added that, despite claims by students that the school board had sought to make an example of Schmucker, the case was handled based on the facts of the situation.

"I don't believe they're sending any message," he said. "The board is required to take each individual student's discipline issue and consider it separately. The facts were applied to the law and the board reached a decision."

Puppio added that he has advised board members and school administrators not to comment on the case, citing the potential for further litigation.